Bonneville Stories, Part IV, has been released on YouTube.
This is a story of Robert ‘Bud’ Schmitt, now 81 years old, who built and rode “THE MONSTER” – a two engine Harley Davidson dragster motorcycle which ran at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1955.
The engines were eighty-inch ‘knuckleheads’ with 12:1 fuel burning pistons and Bus Schaller reground cams with a carburetor on each cylinder.
In 2005, on the 50 year anniversary of his run, Bud returned to the Salt Flats and raced a V Rod. Best speed - 125 mph.
Returning to the Flats in 2006, Bud, age 79, crashed the V Rod at 125 mph and walked away after sliding 500 feet on his stomach. This is the longest recorded slide at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
In 2007 Bud rode the V Rod at the Flats again – best speed 132 mph.
In 2008, Bud’s best speed was 169 mph on the V Rod.
Bud plans to race until he is 92 but intends to live to be 100.
Click on link to YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMK1XVGI_mc Send this email along with the links to anyone you know who loves interesting people, fast machines, and magical landscapes.
View the newly re-uploaded, higher resolution, ‘Bonneville Stories-parts I, II, and III’ on YouTube.
When viewing video, hit ‘high quality’ under YouTube window for best viewing.
Boneville Stories Part I – “Salt Flats Fever Song” by Drew Gatewood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c28nUopBoTs Bonneville Stories Part II “Keepers of the Blue Flame”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgWbdoc6tQQ Bonneville Stories Part II “Z Man”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9qnA4v6QpE Bonneville Stories Part IV “Bud Schmitt” Twin Engine Harley Knuclehead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMK1XVGI_mc
